Hand truck having a folding nose piece

Abstract

A hand truck with a folding nose piece that uses an efficient mechanism to secure the nose piece in either one of a first position, ideal for the transportation of items, and a second position, ideal for storage of the hand truck. The hand truck includes a frame having a pair of wheels over which the center of gravity of items is aligned during transport. A nose piece is rotatably attached to the frame and is rotatable between a first position, generally perpendicularly extended from the frame, and a second position, generally parallel to the frame. A lever pivotally connected to the frame moves between a locked position and an open position. The lever engages and maintains the nose piece in the first position when the lever is in the locked position. The lever also engages and maintains the nose piece in the second position when the lever is in the locked position. The nose piece is movable between the first position and the second position when the lever is in the open position.

I claim the following:  
     
       1. A hand truck having a folding nose piece, comprising: 
       a frame having a pair of wheels;  
       a nose piece rotatably attached to said frame and rotatable between a first position, generally perpendicularly extended from said frame, and a second position, generally parallel to said frame, said nose piece having a support plate attached along an edge of said nose piece, said support plate having a front side facing said nose piece and a rear side extending substantially parallel to said frame when said support plate is in said first position; and  
       a lever pivotally connected to said frame to move between a locked position and an open position, said lever engaging and maintaining said nose piece in said first position when said lever is in said locked position, said lever engaging and maintaining said nose piece in said second position when said lever is in said locked position, said nose piece being movable between said first position and said second position when said lever is in said open position, wherein said lever engages said rear side of said support plate while said nose piece is in said first position and said lever is in said locked position and said lever engages said front side of said support plate while said nose piece is in said second position and said lever is in said locked position.  
     
     
       2. The hand truck of claim  1 , further comprising an elastic member biasing said lever toward said locked position. 
     
     
       3. The hand truck of claim  2 , wherein said lever has an end that is depressed to move said lever to said open position disengaging said lever from said support plate thereby allowing said nose piece to pivot between said first position and said second position. 
     
     
       4. The hand truck of claim  1 , wherein said lever is pivotally mounted about an axis which is coaxial with an axis of rotation of said pair of wheels.